Biology

Biology

Program Description

Studying Biology at AUM could lead to you discovering a new gene, educating the public about infectious diseases, or vaccinating all the dogs in your local shelter against rabies. Whether your interest lies in genetics, public health, or succeeding in medical, dental, or veterinary school, the concentrations in AUM’s Department of Biology allows you to pursue your interests. AUM’s biology degree offers concentrations in General Biology, Health Sciences, Molecular Biology, and Public Health and Microbiology. A degree in Biology can lead to a variety of jobs in research labs, government, or private business.

Points of Pride

Students seeking entry into professional health programs (such as medical, dental, veterinary, or pharmacy school) work with a full-time academic advisor dedicated solely to these students.

In 2015, 90% of AUM students who worked with that advisor and applied to medical, dental, or veterinary school were accepted.

Nearly 20% of students do research with a faculty member and many go on to publish papers and travel to conferences.

Faculty currently have grants from National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Alabama Department of Education.

Students can do research in the department’s biofuels research lab.

Students can take marine biology courses at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab on the Gulf of Mexico.

Students can take semesters abroad in Costa Rica and South Africa.

Summer study abroad opportunities, such as those to the Galapagos, are offered annually or biannually.

Put Your Degree to Work

Note: While salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education and training, and geography and industry, here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries in this area.

Job growth in all the life, physical, and social science occupations is projected to be 7 percent from 2014 to 2014, about average for all occupations. The most recent median annual wage for the life, physical and social science occupations was $61,450 — higher than the median annual wage for all occupations.

U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics Sample Data

Job

Median Pay

Job Growth through 2024

Medical Scientist

$79,930 per year

9% (9,000 more jobs)

Biological Technician

$41,290 per year

5% (4,100 more jobs)

Forensic science technician

$55,360 per year

27% (3,800 more jobs)

For More Information

Soaring Warhawks

Dr. Rick Bright is Acting Director of the Influenza Division, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Kaori Knights runs the Flow Cytometry Lab at Kansas State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

Jeremy Gallman is a captain in the United States Veterinary Corps.

Greg Vison worked at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, and is now a professional angler.

Program Overview

The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the core curriculum courses required for all majors and may not include some program-specific information, such as admissions, retention and termination standards.

Course sampling specific to the Biology major includes:

Required Courses

Course #

Course Name

Course Description

BIOL 2033 or BIOL 2030/2031

Zoology or Zoology/Lab

Identification, taxonomic classification, phylogeny, distribution, life history and economic/medical importance of protozoans, invertebrates and vertebrates. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4203 or BIOL 4200/4201

Ecology (Writing Intensive) or Ecology/Lab

The dynamics of the environment, accenting the description of the physical, chemical and biological properties of local ecosystems, giving special attention to integrative and homeostatic processes, energy flow, nutrient cycles and disruptive phenomena. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 2023
or BIOL 2020/2021

Botany
or Botany/Lab

The morphology, physiology, evolution, distribution and importance of plants. This course includes a required laboratory component.

CHEM 3300

Biochemistry

A standard biochemistry course for students in the health and physical sciences. Emphasis on the major biomolecules and basic metabolism.

Elective Courses
(Students must take at least 18 semester hours of Biology Electives from the list of courses below; 3 of the courses must have laboratories.)

BIOL 3100

Biology of Forensics

This course explores the application of scientific methods and techniques

to problems in the field of forensic science with emphasis on forensic biology.

Topics considered include analysis of hair, fiber and other materials, fingerprinting,

forensic serology and toxicology and DNA analysis.

BIOL 3160

Clinical Pharmacology

A systematic study of therapeutic drugs, their effects on the body and disease processes;

methods of administration and dosage.

BIOL 3250

Epidemiology

An introduction to the techniques used in studying the transmission, incidence

and frequency of disease occurrence in populations.

BIOL 3400

Principles of Toxicology

Covers toxicology, the study of poisons. Topics will include molecular and cellular sites of action of toxicants, carcinogenesis, teratology, effects of toxicants on the nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and other organ systems, and ecosystem-level effects.

BIOL 3503 or BIOL 3500/3501

Biological Instrumentation
or Biological Instrumentation/Lab

An introduction to modern laboratory techniques and instrumentation for defining and measuring parameters encountered in biology. This course is basic to other courses in molecular biology. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 3800

Topics in Ecological Economics

An exploration of the often-divergent viewpoints of economics and ecologists over environmental issues. Issues of interest include economic development, environmental preservation, government regulation and international environmental conflicts.

BIOL 4013
or BIOL 4010/4011

Medical Microbiology (Writing Intensive)
or Medical Microbiology/Lab

The etiology, epidemiology, vector controls, identification and pathogenesis of microorganisms of medical importance to man. This course includes a required

laboratory component.

BIOL 4033
or BIOL 4030/4031

Virology (Writing Intensive)
or Virology/Lab

The molecular biology of bacterial and animal viruses; pathogenesis; diagnosis; and procedures for isolation, cultivation and purification. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4053
or BIOL 4050/4051

Industrial Microbiology
or Industrial Microbiology/Lab

Lectures and laboratory exercises on the principles and practices of industrial

A combined lecture and lab course that cover the roles of microorganisms in the environment. Specific study areas include microbial diversity in earth environments, microbial ecology, biofilms and microbial communication, water- and food-borne pathogens and diseases, mycotoxins, water and sewage treatment,

Introduction to environmental science focusing on detection, sources and treatment methods for water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, solid waste and hazardous waste. Legal and regulatory background will also be presented. Field trips will be made, and laboratory exercises will focus on characterizing water quality.

This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4240

Ecosystems

A continuation of the study of ecology, focusing on key

concepts at higher levels of organization. Topics include fluxes of energy and matter,

temporal and spatial patterns, problems of ecological scale, disturbance and

succession.

BIOL 4343
or BIOL 4340/4341

Histology
or Histology/Lab

A study of the morphology and classification of animal tissues as well as the arrangement of tissues in organs and systems

in vertebrate animals. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4353
or BIOL 4350/4351

Cell Biology
or Cell Biology/Lab

A study of cell structure and function. The generalized cell, specialized cell, and the

cell as an organism will be considered from the viewpoint of classical cytology and in terms of current biochemical, optical and ultra-structural studies. This course

includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4400

Human Genetics

Facets of modern genetics relative to humans. Topics include quantitative trait locus and association studies as methods of identifying genes that contribute to human diseases, whole genome sequencing,

gene expression, forensics, how genetics have been used to better understand the

history of humanity, and a discussion of how recent developments in genetics and

genomics have created complex legal and ethical consideration.

BIOL 4503
or BIOL 4500/4501

Freshwater Biology
or Freshwater Biology/Lab

A study of the taxonomy and environmental relationships of biota of freshwater habitats. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4513
or BIOL 4510/4511

Invertebrate Zoology
or Invertebrate Zoology/Lab

A taxonomic survey of all major invertebrate phyla with emphasis on major anatomical and physiological features and life histories. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4523
or BIOl4520/4521

Wetlands
or Wetlands/Lab

An introduction to the role, value, distribution, variability and structure of wetlands and to the legal and regulatory framework through which they are managed in the U.S. Emphasis is placed on biogeochemical processes unique to wetlands. Field trips will be made. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4533
or BIOL 4530/4531

Conservation Biology
or Conservation Biology/Lab

The application of ecological and genetic principles to conservation. Case studies include fisheries, habitat fragmentation, use of corridors, rarity, extensions, viability analysis, endangered species and the role of models in conservation biology. This course includes a required

laboratory component.

BIOL 4543
or BIOL 4540/4541

Field Botany
or Field Botany/Lab

An introduction to vascular plant taxonomy with emphasis on local vegetation. Weekly field trips will be made to different parts

of the state and a plant collection will be required. This course includes a required laboratory component.

DNA techniques; and applications of biotechnology in medicine, agriculture and

industry. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4663
or BIOL 4660/4601

Field Zoology
or Field Zoology/Lab

A study of the natural history of vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals), concentrating on phylogeny, adaptations, ecology and behavior. Laboratory exercises will be oriented toward learning field techniques and familiarizing students with the local fauna. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4753
or BIOL 4750/4751

Endocrinology
or Endocrinology/Lab

A study of the endocrine

glands and their hormones as integrators of body functions in organisms, especially

vertebrates. This course includes a required laboratory component.

BIOL 4760

Evolutionary Biology

A study of evolutionary concepts, including population genetics, variability, dispersal, gene frequencies, natural selection and speciation.

BIOL 4800

Perspectives in Biology I

Allows the student to study a current topic not offered in the basic biology curriculum. Topics will vary and times offered will be irregular. No lab is required.